Mare of Easttown was always meant to be a limited series on HBO. The seven episodes of the first season explain who killed Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny), what happened to Katie Bailey (Caitlin Houlahan), and leave Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) in a positive place of acceptance. So Mare of Easttown is over, or is it? Just because Mare of Easttown was envisioned as a single season series, does that mean Kate Winslet is done for good with the Delco detective? Will there be a Mare of Easttown Season 2? Or could Kate Winslet return as Mare on HBO in a whole new story?
Mare of Easttown tells the story of Detective Mare Sheehan. When we first meet her, she is smarting from her failure to find Katie Bailey after a year of being missing. However Mare is soon pulled into another murder investigation, this one focused on teen mom Erin McMenamin. Erin is related to Mare’s best friend’s family and connected to almost everyone important in Easttown. The journey to find out the truth about what happened to the girl threatens to air dirty secrets and blow up relationships forever.
By the end of Mare of Easttown Season 1, the mysteries have all been solved, but what happens to Mare next? Could Mare of Easttown follow the suit of Big Little Lies and return for Season 2? Here’s everything we know about a potential Mare of Easttown Season 2 on HBO and HBO Max…
Will There Be a Mare of Easttown Season 2 on HBO and HBO Max?
We don’t know! Right now it’s being billed as just a limited series, but that could change.
When Decider spoke with Mare of Easttown director and executive producer Craig Zobel before the show’s launch, he told us it was a “one and done miniseries.” That said, he didn’t shut the door on Kate Winslet reprising the role on HBO forever…
“I think [Mare of Easttown] is a complete story and this is a finished story,” Zobel said, before adding a caveat. “Partly because we shot it during the pandemic and Kate had to live inside of Mare for so long, that I think she will miss Mare and so, I wouldn’t rule it out that she would be interested in being that person again.”
Decider asked Mare of Easttown‘s writer and creator Brad Ingelsby if he would be open to writing more Mare stories. He said, “Look, I always envisioned it as one [season]. We had a very definitive ending. Everything gets wrapped up. There’s no lingering mystery. So I don’t know.”
However, Ingelsby also doesn’t want to completely shut the door on more Mare.
“I think we had such a carefully plotted season of a mystery… like if we could do that again and have it be really compelling and surprising? Then I would be up for it. I don’t have that idea now,” Ingelsby said. “But if we could come up with a story that we were all confident in… I’ll spend more time with Mare Sheehan. I love her.”
Decider also had a chance to ask one of Mare of Easttown‘s stars if she would be game to return. Julianne Nicholson said she would, but with one caveat for her character Lori Ross.
“Yeah, I would be open to it. I loved working with those people. They were really easy, generous, fun, smart people to get to spend time with. So, sure,” Nicholson said. “I mean, I can’t have Lori just like suffering for the next [season] just because I feel for her, but yeah, I would be up to see what what Brad’s mind would come up with.”
So whether or not Mare of Easttown Season 2 happens is all up to creator Brad Ingelsby. While he seemed open to the idea, he also made it clear to Decider he would need to have a great idea for a story. (Which, again, he doesn’t have right now.)
Ingelsby said, “Because I’ve seen so many second seasons where it’s like, ‘eugh…’ It’s hard. If we could crack a story that was great, then one hundred percent. I love Mare. I love Helen. I love Siobhan. I love all the characters. I’d love to spend a couple more hours with them.”
Where to stream Mare of Easttown